Site Mobile Navigation

Brodeur Has Success, if Not Seniority

Martin Brodeur has his oversized blocking glove opened wide. He is ready to catch the torch that is about to be handed his way.

The Devils goaltender is by far the least experienced of the three goalies invited to Team Canada's training camp for the World Cup of Hockey.

The Boston Bruins goalie Bill Ranford, 29, enters with 567 National Hockey League games and 11 seasons under his belt, along with a six-victory performance in the 1991 Canada Cup. Edmonton Oilers goaltender Curtis Joseph, 29, has played 348 games in the N.H.L.

And then there's Brodeur. Although he has already been fitted for a Stanley Cup ring, the 24-year-old Brodeur has played only three full seasons in the league.

He is the first to say he is the rookie of the group.

''Everything they do here is seniority, so it was no surprise that Billy got to wear No. 30 and I got No. 1,'' said Brodeur, who wears No. 30 with the Devils. ''I know I'm young. Hey, they can put the double zero on my back and that would be O.K. Five years from now I'll be the one wearing my regular number.''

This tournament has been hailed as an opportunity for the N.H.L.'s younger players such as Devils defenseman Scott Niedermayer, Colorado defenseman Adam Foote and Vancouver forward Trevor Linden to assume the mantle from the league's older stars such as Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier. Brodeur's situation is much the same.

''I think he's one of the best goalies in the game,'' said his former Devils teammate and current Colorado wing Claude Lemieux, who is also playing for Team Canada. ''The other guys have a little more experience, but Martin has won the cup.

''This is like Chapter 2 for him. There aren't many young guys who can say they have a Stanley Cup and a World Cup ring.''

After the first four days of training camp, the Canada general manager and coach, Glen Sather, won't say who will get the lion's share of the work in goal.

''I'd be happy with any of the three in there,'' Sather said. ''They all look good. Ranford obviously has the most experience, but Brodeur had the best success in the league the past few years. He's known as one of the go-to goalies in the league.''

Brodeur said he won't be distraught if he starts the tournament from the press box.

''First of all I'm just glad to be here,'' he said. ''I got picked before some very good goalies. But of the other goalies here, they have much more experience than me.

''If I don't play it's not going to be a disappointment. But this is a kind of tournament where if you do get in there and happen to get on a hot streak you keep playing.''

Although New Jersey failed to make the playoffs last season, Brodeur stayed in game shape for much of the summer by playing with Canada's team in the world championships in Vienna.

''I went over with Canada because I wanted to experience some success this year,'' said Brodeur, whose disappointment in the Devils' play was tempered some by Canada's winning a silver medal. ''Last year was really tough. We played with fire and got burned in the end. It was tough to take because I know we could have competed well in the playoffs.''